Basketball development in Lesotho received a significant boost on Wednesday when the Lesotho Basketball Association (LBA) received a donation of basketball equipment from the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 and FIBA Africa.
The handover ceremony, held at the Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture was attended by government officials, sports administrators and members of the media among others.
It marked another step in efforts to expand basketball participation and strengthen youth development through sport across the country.
Speaking at the event, AUSC Region 5 Chief Executive Officer Stanley Mutoya described the donation as far more than a contribution of sporting equipment.
“Today’s handover is about creating opportunities, nurturing talent, building communities and strengthening pathways that enable young people to realize their full potential,” said Mutoya.
He emphasised the rapid growth of basketball worldwide, particularly the emergence of 3×3 basketball, which has become an Olympic discipline and offers affordable and accessible opportunities for youth participation.
Mutoya said the equipment donation aligns with AUSC Region 5’s vision of building ‘a Winning Region’ and “an Active Region” by increasing participation levels and strengthening talent development systems.
“More participation means larger talent pools, stronger clubs, more competitive leagues and ultimately more athletes capable of representing Lesotho and the Region with distinction,” he said.
The AUSC Region 5 CEO also challenged schools, clubs, basketball administrators and communities to ensure the equipment reaches courts and development programmes rather than remaining in storage facilities.
“Let it not remain in storerooms. Let it be seen on courts, in schools, in communities and in development programmes. Let it become an instrument for transformation,” he urged.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Government of Lesotho, Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture Stephen Mputi expressed gratitude to AUSC Region 5 and FIBA Africa for what he described as an investment in the nation’s future.
“Today marks a proud moment for Lesotho as we receive these basketballs under the FIBA Legacy Initiative,” said Mputi.
“This gift is more than just sporting equipment. It is an investment in the future of our youth. Through basketball, we will nurture talent across the country, provide opportunities for young people to shine and build a strong pipeline of athletes who can represent Lesotho with pride.”
The Minister highlighted sport’s role in addressing social challenges, particularly among young people.
“These basketballs will help us achieve something even greater. They will take children off the streets, give them purpose and instill discipline and teamwork. They will be tools for character building and for fighting the scourge of drug abuse that threatens our communities,” he said.
Mputi added that the donation would help spread basketball to schools, villages and towns throughout Lesotho, ensuring greater access to the sport for young people regardless of their location.
“We believe that sport is a powerful force for unity, health and social transformation,” he said.
Beyond basketball development, Mutoya outlined AUSC Region 5’s broader ambitions for Lesotho’s sporting future.
He noted that Lesotho’s unique high-altitude environment provides a natural advantage for athlete training and could position the country as one of Southern Africa’s leading centres for high-performance sport.
The AUSC Region 5 chief highlighted the potential transformation of the Rapokolana Swimming Complex into a Regional Centre of Excellence for swimming development and high-altitude training.
According to Mutoya, such an investment could attract regional and international athletes, stimulate sports tourism, create employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth.
“It is the aspiration of AUSC Region 5 that, subject to continued development and investment, the Rapokolana Swimming Complex could in future be considered as a satellite centre under the Region’s Podium Performance Programme,” he said.
The equipment donated to the Lesotho Basketball Association will be distributed nationwide to schools, villages and towns to strengthen grassroots basketball development, improve access to facilities and create pathways for talented young players to progress through the sport.
Both AUSC Region 5 and the Government of Lesotho expressed confidence that the initiative will contribute to healthier communities, stronger clubs and future national team success.
Summary
- Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Government of Lesotho, Minister of Tourism, Sports, Arts and Culture Stephen Mputi expressed gratitude to AUSC Region 5 and FIBA Africa for what he described as an investment in the nation’s future.
- “It is the aspiration of AUSC Region 5 that, subject to continued development and investment, the Rapokolana Swimming Complex could in future be considered as a satellite centre under the Region’s Podium Performance Programme,” he said.
- The equipment donated to the Lesotho Basketball Association will be distributed nationwide to schools, villages and towns to strengthen grassroots basketball development, improve access to facilities and create pathways for talented young players to progress through the sport.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
